Belt with ball mark repair tool

ABSTRACT

In combination, a belt and a ball mark repair tool, in which the ball mark repair tool is received in the belt and releasably secured for storing the tool when not in use.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally related to belts for shorts or trousers with an integrated ball mark repair tool.

BACKGROUND

In the game of golf, the object is to hit the golf ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible. In order to accomplish this considerably difficult feat, a golfer hits a shot from a tee box towards a golf green where the hole is located. Golf courses and golf holes come in myriad different shapes, sizes, and the particular length of each individual golf hole. However, there is a common thread, in that no matter what the length or difficulty of the hole, there is a green with the actual hole marked by a flag stick.

Golf greens are designed to be relatively uniform on their surface so that a ball can be putted, i.e., rolled from a certain point on the green into the hole. In order to accomplish this, the golfer, before striking the putt toward the hole, typically surveys the shot to be made, noting the distance to the hole, any undulations along the line of the putt which might cause the putt to break to the right or to the left. The golfer also tries to decide what is the estimated speed of the putt, which is a calculation made by the golfer taking into account whether the ball is putted uphill or downhill, the condition of the greens, the time of day, the presence or absence of moisture on the green, how closely the green has been mowed, and prior experience of the golfer with similar type putts, similar type holes, etc. Considering all of the calculations that go into the golf “equation”, it is often said that golf is a game that can never be mastered.

On the golfer's approach shot to the green, whether it be from a tee or on a par three hole or from the fairway on a par four or par five hole, the hard golf ball impacting a relatively soft green leaves the partial imprint of the ball at the point of impact therewith. This ball mark, if not repaired, may interfere with the golfer's putting line, with the putting line of others in the group or following the group, and, if not repaired, will result in relatively long term damage to the putting surface. As the greens are the most expensive part of the golf course to maintain, it is in the interest of golf course superintendents and course professionals, as well as the golfers playing the course, to maintain the greens in as good a condition as possible. Thus, one of the maxims of golf etiquette is to repair ones ball mark, (and preferably one or two others that may have been missed by other golfers), immediately after reaching the green and prior to putting the ball into the hole.

To this end, it is common for golfers to use a relatively specialized ball mark repair tool which typically has two prongs extending outwardly from a body portion that are used to repair the mark made by the golf ball impacting the green. If such a tool is not available to the golfer, a golf tee having a single pointed end may be used to restore the green to as close to its original condition as is possible.

Many such ball mark repair tools are available on the market and they have been in use for many years. Some examples are shown by U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2006/0025230 to Zeuch which shows a ball mark repair tool disposed on the end of a golf club. Another such tool is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,505 to Bradley, et al., the ball mark repair portion of the device being shown by FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 and indicated by the numeral 70.

In the game of golf, whether wearing shorts or trousers, it is not uncommon for the golfer to have many different items in his or her pockets. For example, a golfer may carry one or two golf balls, one or more golf tees, ball markers, divot repair tools, and other accessories which may or may not be utilized in playing golf, such as a cell phone, for example. As such, it is quite customary and sometimes necessary that a golfer wear a belt to secure his or her shorts or trousers around the waist. In many formal settings such as at private country clubs or in professional golf tournaments, a belt may be a requirement as an element of proper attire.

It is to these diverse fields that the present disclosure is directed. None of the above-referenced prior art or any other known device addresses the subject of the present disclosure. Thus a need exists in the art for the combination as claimed.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a belt having a ball mark repair tool associated therewith, the belt having one end constructed so as to receive the ball mark repair tool therein such that it is ready for use at any time and easily stored when not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a belt with ball mark repair tool disposed therein.

FIG. 2 is a exploded perspective view illustrated the removed position of the ball mark repair tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, numeral 10 designates generally a belt having a golf ball mark repair tool secured therein. The belt 12 is relative conventional design with a buckle 14 disposed at a first or proximal end, a central portion 16, and a distal end 18, opposite the buckle end. Distal end 18 is normally designed with a streamlined shape in order to be easily fed through belt loops and through the buckle where the prong 20 of the buckle is engaged with one of a plurality of holes 22 formed near the distal end 18 so that the diameter of the belt can be adjusted around the users waist.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the distal end of the belt 10 is provided with a sheath 24 having an open end 26. The open end 26 receives a golf ball mark repair tool 28 that has prongs 30 or the like which are designed to repair a ball mark left by a ball impacting the green on a golf course. The ball mark repair tool 28 also includes a head portion 32 which serves as a handle for the golfer to use in inserting the prongs into the golf green to repair the ball mark, and also as the leading end for the distal end of the belt, so as to facilitate its insertion through belt loops and into the buckle end. The ball mark repair tool 28 can be made from any suitable material, such as metal or plastic and is designed to frictionally or otherwise engage sheath 24 so that it is retained in place when returned to its resting position shown in FIG. 1, yet is relatively easily removed by the golfer for use in repairing ball marks on a putting green. The sheath may include a leaf spring, for example, which bears against the ball mark repair tool to retain it in position. The sheath may also be slightly smaller than the ball mark repair tool, and the tool itself may be made slightly flexible for retention in the sheath. In another embodiment, the sheath may be designed as a slit in the belt material, with the repair tool received therein. Other means are also contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.

In the use and operation of the present belt having a ball mark repair tool associated therewith, the belt is disposed around the golfer's waist during the round of golf. The ball mark repair tool is disposed in the sheath where it is retained via the frictional or other engagement therewith. If the golfer's approach shot to the green leaves a ball mark caused by the impact of the golf ball, the ball mark repair tool 28 is withdrawn from its secured position in the sheath and manipulated so as to push the turf back into place such that it can be flattened with a golf club, golf shoe, or other appropriate means. The ball mark repair tool is then returned to its secure engagement with the sheath where it is maintained until its use is required on a subsequent golf hole.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims. 

1. A belt comprising a first end having a buckle, a distal end, and a body portion disposed therebetween, the distal end being designed for engagement with said buckle for adjustably securing the diameter of the belt, said distal end including a sheath with an open end and ball mark repair tool releasably secured in said sheath.
 2. A belt as defined in claim 1 in which said ball mark repair tool is frictionally engaged in said sheath when not in use.
 3. In combination, a belt for securing trousers and the like about the waist of a wearer, said belt having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a sheath, said sheath having a ball mark repair tool releasably engaged therein.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and in which said sheath has an open end for receiving and releasably securing said ball mark repair tool. 